Oakwood has a legacy of excellence, and I am eager to maintain this legacy through the core pillars of my campaign: Opportunity, Community, and Inclusivity.
Community is a word that sparks a wide array of thoughts, invokes a variety of emotions, and recalls invaluable experiences for many of us.
For some, community may bring to mind images of neighbors supporting you in difficult moments or the way your child still talks about their favorite third grade teacher. It could be a familiar, smiling face on an evening walk, having access to great sidewalks and beautiful parks, finding solidarity with others during similar life stages, or leaning on each other during a pandemic.
Our community is a large part of what makes Oakwood Schools so special.
Fostering community connections, amplifying the voices of our students and parents, and ensuring that our school staff are supported are top-of-mind factors for me as a school board candidate.
I commit to strengthening our community by supporting Oakwood’s educators and school district staff in ensuring our schools are the best they can be for all learners to thrive. Approximately eighty-five percent of district spending is for personnel. We are fortunate to have phenomenal educators positively impacting our students on a daily basis. The majority of Oakwood’s educators have advanced degrees and have been teaching for 10+ years. I will promote Oakwood’s legacy of excellence by supporting our educators in utilizing evidence-based, data-driven models of differentiation, instruction, collaboration, and inclusion that benefit all learners.
Our community also consists of families and community members. It’s important to tap into the unique strengths Oakwood families provide and seek creative opportunities to enhance engagement, volunteer opportunities, and other meaningful ways of involving parents and families in holistic support for all learners.
It’s important to maintain and improve partnerships with community members through transparent and bi-directional communication between the community and our schools, so all voices can be heard, learned from, and respected.
If elected to the Oakwood school board, I will uphold the pillar of community for all students, educators, school staff, and families.